Crud is cruddy
Jun. 13th, 2011 09:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
averygoodun42Well, we just got back from the hospital.
At about 5:00 (i.e. when our clinic closes), Page started complaining about chest pains. By 5:30 he was in tears because of the pain. So, I called Geoff home, and off we went to the ER.
If I had been a bit more proactive with the first asthma attack of the day, perhaps we could have made it to the clinic, but noooooooo... I had to be a bloody optimist and figure that since a quarter or half a puff of albuterol cleared up his audible wheezing, he was just fine and would be just fine for the rest of the day. Ach well. He wasn't in pain then. Wheezes come from colds, too... I suck, don't I? Don't answer that.
Anyway, we took him to the ER after I called the local drop-in clinic who told me to call his pedia and/or go to the hospital. And, in what must be a record, we managed to get all the care necessary to loosen his airways and bring his oxygen levels up to the acceptable range (he was at 94 during triage) in only two and a half hours!
Lots of thoughts crowding my head at all this, among them: oh, this would explain why he doesn't run around like the other kids and seems rather lazy. Not having enough air will make you tired! And: Maybe we'll be lucky and the hospital visit will only be $600. We can manage $600... And: Oh, for fuck's sake, it's the last fucking week of school. Do I have to fill out all of the bloody paperwork? Or can I just give him his meds directly before and after? And: I guess I need to call my friend and cancel my birthday lunch...
There's more in there, but that gives the gist. Beyond the relief that he's okay-ish now, that is. But, well, he isn't okay, is he? Not until this becomes properly managed.
Happy birthday to me. I suppose I had to pay for all the good birthdays at some point.
At about 5:00 (i.e. when our clinic closes), Page started complaining about chest pains. By 5:30 he was in tears because of the pain. So, I called Geoff home, and off we went to the ER.
If I had been a bit more proactive with the first asthma attack of the day, perhaps we could have made it to the clinic, but noooooooo... I had to be a bloody optimist and figure that since a quarter or half a puff of albuterol cleared up his audible wheezing, he was just fine and would be just fine for the rest of the day. Ach well. He wasn't in pain then. Wheezes come from colds, too... I suck, don't I? Don't answer that.
Anyway, we took him to the ER after I called the local drop-in clinic who told me to call his pedia and/or go to the hospital. And, in what must be a record, we managed to get all the care necessary to loosen his airways and bring his oxygen levels up to the acceptable range (he was at 94 during triage) in only two and a half hours!
Lots of thoughts crowding my head at all this, among them: oh, this would explain why he doesn't run around like the other kids and seems rather lazy. Not having enough air will make you tired! And: Maybe we'll be lucky and the hospital visit will only be $600. We can manage $600... And: Oh, for fuck's sake, it's the last fucking week of school. Do I have to fill out all of the bloody paperwork? Or can I just give him his meds directly before and after? And: I guess I need to call my friend and cancel my birthday lunch...
There's more in there, but that gives the gist. Beyond the relief that he's okay-ish now, that is. But, well, he isn't okay, is he? Not until this becomes properly managed.
Happy birthday to me. I suppose I had to pay for all the good birthdays at some point.
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no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 01:46 am (UTC)Make sure to get him on some sort of regime regarding his meds. Hudson is down to carrying around a puffer with him which he has hardly used. Hopefully he will grow out of it, but until then I shall say a prayer for him.
loves you babe, let me know how it all goes, Sonia
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Date: 2011-06-14 02:39 am (UTC)Sorry. Bit bitter.
Thanks. I will be getting him on the regimen starting tomorrow. I outgrew my asthma, pretty much, as did Geoff, so it seems likely he will, as well. I do appreciate the prayer.
*hugs*
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Date: 2011-06-14 03:40 am (UTC)Loves you, Sonia :)
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Date: 2011-06-14 01:57 am (UTC)I'm glad it was gotten under control and hope the meds will stabilize it for him.
Whatever the ER bill comes to, check into whatever relief fund the hospital has. Most do have *something* to help those who neither have private insurance nor qualify for public. It's rarely enough, but it can help.
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Date: 2011-06-14 02:42 am (UTC)Thing is about the bill, we do have insurance. We're just still meeting the deductible at this point. :-/ However, I will be asking about payment plans.
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Date: 2011-06-14 02:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 01:58 am (UTC)And you don't suck. You're doing the best you can, Page is OK, and he's getting the help he needs. Give yourself a break.
Hugs to all of you.
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Date: 2011-06-14 02:44 am (UTC)*hugs back* Thanks.
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Date: 2011-06-14 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 02:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 02:36 am (UTC)Plus, I sent you a present. Even if it hasn't got there yet I am sure you will like it.
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Date: 2011-06-14 02:46 am (UTC)Oooooh! I look forward to it. Thank you in advance!
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Date: 2011-06-14 03:09 am (UTC)Second - YOU DON'T SUCK!! Sometimes it's just hard to know everything that is going on when they don't have the words to tell you yet.
Third - HUGS!!
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Date: 2011-06-15 04:41 pm (UTC)Deep down, I know I don't suck, but right now it's hard to get a grip on that. Slippery thing, that self-esteem.
*hugs back* Thank you!
Page
Date: 2011-06-14 03:23 am (UTC)Re: Page
Date: 2011-06-15 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-14 05:54 am (UTC)*hugs*
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Date: 2011-06-15 04:43 pm (UTC)*hugs back*
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Date: 2011-06-14 06:13 am (UTC)I'm terribly sorry for you and Page, but at least you now know what's up and can start managing it properly. As much as I wish things didn't have to be wrong to start with.
Ouch, ouch, ouch about the money. You have my sympathies. While our system is far from perfect (in a still relatively poor country with a relatively poor population, and very high unemployment, there's a limit to how much tax money there is for the government to spend), I'd hate to have your system.
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Date: 2011-06-15 04:47 pm (UTC)Precisely. Looking back, I think he's been suffering for a while now, but, well, not severely enough to be noticeable. Now he can start recovering.
Our system is stupid. Really, really stupid. It constantly amazes me just how stupid it is, and how resistant people are to really fixing it for the betterment of the people AND the economy, rather than slapping on an expensive, punitive band-aid. *shrugs* Ah well.
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Date: 2011-06-14 07:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-15 04:49 pm (UTC)Ach well.
Thank you for the birthday wishes. I appreciate them very much!
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Date: 2011-06-14 11:07 am (UTC)And outraged that you have to pay for a trip to the ER.
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Date: 2011-06-15 04:51 pm (UTC)Who knows how much it will end up being. On the plus side, if it's over $1000, then it will basically use up the deductible and we can start booking appointments left and right should we need...
Our system sucks so much.
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Date: 2011-06-14 11:50 am (UTC)I am sorry this happened, birthday or not, but especially on your birthday.
Speaking as someone who has had asthma all her life, I promise, it isn't as bad as it seems. Once the doctors get him on meds that work, and he gets into the habit of taking them, and knows when and how to use his inhaler properly; it will be like having a different kid. Will he run and jump and play, yes, just like other kids, not quite, but close.
You will all learn how to mitigate the triggers, and he will get to the point that he knows well in advance when he needs to use the inhaler. It can be scary and it is a big change, but YOU DO NOT SUCK!!!! I say that because my mother for two years accused me of faking not being able to breath to get out of things, in her defense, she was raised in rural Alabama and honestly didn't understand. I think she cried for two days after the school rushed me to the hospital one afternoon.
It is controllable, you can deal with this. Stressing won't help, so sotop.
(((((hugs you and page)))) And Happy Birthday, again.
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Date: 2011-06-15 04:58 pm (UTC)Oh, I know it isn't horrible. I have asthma, too, and my dad had REALLY bad asthma until he kicked it with running. I think I'm more upset about the cost of the ER trip than anything. This is going to max out our reasonable rate cards, and, probably, not completely cover the deductible. Because having health insurance is supposed to make health care affordable. /snark
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Date: 2011-06-14 08:55 pm (UTC)Fuck, what a birthday. =( But I'm glad he's okay and out of pain now.
Fuck you, US healthcare. Fuck you so hard. =(
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Date: 2011-06-15 05:00 pm (UTC)Yeah, it was pretty miserable, but, you know, odds are that the birthday will be one of those shitty days at some point in your life. Hopefully this one was it for me. :-)
Yes. Fuck it till it screams Socialism!